Moon Spruce Tonewoods

Over the past several decades, makers of the guitar manufacturers have succeeded in making historic guitars that have become famous with musicians who’ve used these guitars. Although many people don’t know the Moon spruce wood by name, it has been used for crafting instruments for some time. Provides a sound rich in overtones, focused, full of nuance and tone color — a sound often preferred by fingerpickers. It offers a quicker response and greater headroom than Engelmann. Usually takes a slightly longer period of playing time to open up than Engelmann or Sitka.

Moon Spruce - A unique acoustic guitar tonewood

Other names for this wood are Norway spruce, European spruce, and German spruce. Its botanical name is Picea abies. This tree is a native of central and northern Europe and can grow as tall as 115-118ft. The trunk can be as wide as 1-1.5m in diameter and with age, the tree tends to become wider.

The color of the wood is mostly creamy white, and occasionally, it can have a tint of red or yellow. The texture is fine and it has a consistent straight grain. The wood is generally resistant to decay, which makes it a favorite wood for making guitars and furniture.

The wood is easy to work with because it doesn’t have any knots. With finishing and glues, it works really well and gives the guitar a unique aesthetic appeal. With a finish, it is possible for the instrument to last many, many years. Moreover, the finish makes the color of the wood look even better.

This wood is rather common in Europe. Since people have been growing it in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific coastal areas of the U.S., construction companies have also been using it for making buildings and bridges.

In most other countries, this wood sells by other names like the German spruce and Yugoslavian spruce. With these names, the price tends to be higher than it is in its native land. Other species of this tree are:

· Black Spruce (Picea mariana)

· Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)

· Red Spruce (Picea rubens)

· Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannii)

· White Spruce (Picea glauca)

The most common uses of the Moon spruce are in millwork, and for making musical instruments like the soundboards and guitars.

Why It’s Good for Guitar Building

The Moon spruce is a fine tonewood for crafting guitars because it offers all three qualities necessary for a good guitar. The wood is durable, sounds fantastic and it is aesthetically appealing. The yellow color makes the guitar look simple, yet very classy. The sound it makes is distinct and varied from other spruces.